Compartmentalized Cylindrical Storage Jar

ABSTRACT

A cylindrical storage jar defining two or more compartments for storing material, each compartment detachable to a superior or inferior cylindrical compartment.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a jar for storing supplements or perishable foods, and more particularly relates to a jar having a plurality of compartments for storing perishable foods and non-perishable substances.

Description of the Related Art

Jars with screw-down lids are well-known in the art, including polymeric jars for storing food perishables such as body-building supplements like creatine, soy protein as well as other perishables.

A complete workout supplemental regime includes pre-workout and post-workout supplementation, often of several different supplements. Because these supplements must be taken separately, they cannot be mixed in a single container.

Traditional jars suffer from a number of defects and inefficiencies, including that they are not compartmentalized for receiving and holding more than one substance. As a result, multiple jars are often kept and ported unnecessarily with one another, taking up space in gym bags and lockers, as well as closets, kitchens, luggage and the like.

It would be desirable to have a jar with multiple compartments for storing supplements and food perishables meant to be stowed and/or transported together and meant to be used for similar purposes but not used simultaneously. Such an apparatus would effectively serve the needs of bodybuilders, athletes, exercise enthusiasts, and any other needing to take multiple food sources in sequence.

There exists a need in the art for a jar having multiple compartments which facilitates concurrent storing and sequential removal of perishables from a jar. Beneficially, such a jar or apparatus would also provide more efficient means of use than traditional cylindrical jars. It is therefore desirable that a compartmentalized cylindrical storage jar be provided.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

From the foregoing discussion, it should be apparent that a need exists for a compartmentalized cylindrical storage jar. Beneficially, such an apparatus would overcome many of the difficulties with the prior art by providing portability and efficient means of storing and removing multiple substances from the jar.

The present invention has been developed in response to the problems and needs in the art that have not yet been fully solved by currently available apparati and methods. Accordingly, the present invention has been developed to provide a compartmentalized cylindrical storage jar for improved storage of materials, the storage jar comprising: a first hollow polymeric cylinder having two open ends, a bottom end and a top end, the first hollow polymeric cylinder having two annular flanges for forming a friction with one of a cap and an annular coupler; a second hollow polymeric cylinder having two open ends, a bottom end and a top end, the second hollow polymeric cylinder having two annular flanges for forming a friction with one of a cap and an annular coupler; an annular coupler adapted to form a friction fit with two annular flanges; two lids detachably connectable to an annular flange.

The hollow polymeric cylinder may be one of transparent and translucent. The first cylinder body may further comprise marcation lines for estimating a quantity of viscous material remaining in the jar.

The jar may further comprise a third hollow polymeric cylinder having two open ends, a bottom end and a top end, the first hollow polymeric cylinder having two annular flanges for forming a friction with one of a cap and an annular coupler.

The first hollow polymeric cylinder and the second hollow polymeric cylinder may each form a compartment for storing a material.

A second compartmentalized cylindrical storage jar for improved storage of materials is provided, the jar comprising: a first hollow polymeric cylinder having an open top end, the first hollow polymeric cylinder having a superior annular flange for forming a friction with one of a cap and a second hollow polymeric cylinder; wherein the first hollow polymeric cylinder further comprises an inferiorly-protruding sidewall adapted to receive and form a friction fit with a second hollow polymeric cylinder; a second hollow polymeric cylinder having an open top end, the second hollow polymeric cylinder having a superior annular flange for forming a friction with one of a cap and a first hollow polymeric cylinder; wherein the second hollow polymeric cylinder further comprises an inferiorly-protruding sidewall adapted to receive and form a friction fit with a first hollow polymeric cylinder.

A volume of the first hollow polymeric cylinder may be greater than a volume of the second hollow polymeric cylinder.

The first hollow polymeric cylinder and the second hollow polymeric cylinder may each form a compartment for storing a material.

The jar may further comprise a third hollow polymeric cylinder having an open top end, the third hollow polymeric cylinder having a superior annular flange for forming a friction with one of a cap and a first hollow polymeric cylinder; wherein the third hollow polymeric cylinder further comprises an inferiorly-protruding sidewall adapted to receive and form a friction fit with a first hollow polymeric cylinder.

These features and advantages of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, or may be learned by the practice of the invention as set forth hereinafter

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order that the advantages of the invention will be readily understood, a more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments that are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an upper, side perspective view of a compartmentalized cylindrical storage jar in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side perspective view of a compartmentalized cylindrical storage jar in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of a compartmentalized cylindrical storage jar in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 4A is a side perspective view of a compartmentalized cylindrical storage jar in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 4B is a side perspective view of a compartmentalized cylindrical storage jar in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a sectioned, side perspective view of a compartmentalized cylindrical storage jar in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 6 is an upper, side perspective view of a compartmentalized cylindrical storage jar in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 7 is a sectioned, side perspective view of a compartmentalized cylindrical storage jar in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment,” “in an embodiment,” and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment.

Furthermore, the described features, structures, or characteristics of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In the following description, numerous specific details are provided to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the invention. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that the invention may be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, and so forth. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the invention.

FIG. 1 is an upper, side perspective view of a compartmentalized cylindrical storage jar 100 in accordance with the present invention. The storage jar 100 comprises a first cylindrical member 102 a, a second cylindrical member 102 b, a first lid 106 a, a second lid 106 b, and coupler 104.

Each cylindrical member comprises an open top and an open bottom end. The open top end 114 is defined by a top annularity 110 (or flange or protuberance) which axially circumscribes the open top end and which is smaller is diameter than the center portion (or body) of the first cylindrical member 102. The annularity 110 juts superiorly from the body of the cylindrical body 102 and is dimensioned to position within one of an annular coupler 104 and a cap 106 to form a friction fit therewith. In some embodiments, the annularity 110 is interiorly or exteriorly threaded to mate with opposing threading on a cap 106 or coupler 104.

The open bottom end is also defined by a lower annular flange (or protuberance) 112 which circumscribes the open bottom end and which is smaller is diameter than the center portion (or body) of the cylindrical member 102. In some embodiments, the lower annular flange 112 (or annularity) is larger in diameter than the top annularity 110. The lower annularity 112 juts inferiorly from the body of the cylindrical body 102 and is dimensioned, in various embodiments, to position within either an annular coupler 104, or a cap 106, and to form a friction fit therewith.

The annularities 110, 112 may be threaded exteriorly for engaging an interiorly-threaded surface of the annular coupler 104 or the cap 106. The jar 100 is also threaded interiorly for engaging an interiorly-threaded surface of the top lid 104.

The couples 104 is cylindrical and comprises a platform 114 disposed at a midpoint between the top and bottom of the coupler such that the platform 114 keep contents within the cylindrical member 102 a separate from contents within the cylindrical member 102 b.

The first cylindrical member 102 a may be identical to the second cylindrical member 102; or, alternatively, may differ only in height in the shown embodiment.

Each of the components indicated at 102 a, 104, and 106 may be formed from polymeric materials, metallic materials, or organic materials (e.g., leather or wood).

A logo of a manufacturer may position on the top surface 116 of the cap 106. The top surface 116 may be planar or convex.

FIG. 2 is a side perspective view of a compartmentalized cylindrical storage jar 200 in disassembled configuration in accordance with the present invention.

The cylindrical members 102 each taper at the top and bottom to form the annular flanges 110 which circumscribe the open top ends 114.

Each cylindrical member 102 formed a compartment 220 for storing a stored product or viscous material. The viscous materials which may be stored in the jar 200 include perishable foods such as peanut butter, butter, cheese, and the like, but also may include powders such as bodybuilding supplements such as protein powders, creatine, etc. The viscous material may also comprise other substances with commercial, residential or industrial applications, including motor oil, cleaner, and the like.

FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of a compartmentalized cylindrical storage jar 300 in accordance with the present invention.

As shown.

FIG. 4A is a side perspective view of a compartmentalized cylindrical storage jar 400 in assembled configuration in accordance with the present invention.

A volume of the cylindrical body 102 a may exceed a volume of the cylindrical body 102 b.

FIG. 4B is a side perspective view of a compartmentalized cylindrical storage jar 450 in assembled configuration in accordance with the present invention.

In various embodiments, the jar 450 comprises bodies 452 a-b which are frustoconical rather than cylindrical as shown.

FIG. 5 is a sectioned, side perspective view of a compartmentalized cylindrical storage jar 500 in an assembled configuration in accordance with the present invention.

As shown, the cylindrical members 102 a-b position between the annular coupler 104 and the caps 106.

FIG. 6 is an upper, side perspective view of another embodiment of a compartmentalized cylindrical storage jar 600 in disassembled configuration in accordance with the present invention.

In this shown embodiment, the cylindrical members 602, 604 mate with one another. The cylindrical member 604 inserts into a recess defined by cylindrical member 602 forming a friction fit therewith.

The volume of cylindrical member 602 is greater than that of cylindrical member 604.

FIG. 7 is a sectioned, side perspective view of a compartmentalized cylindrical storage jar 700 in accordance with the present invention.

The cylindrical member 604 mates with cylindrical member 602 as shown. A sidewall 706 protrudes inferiorly from the cylindrical member 602 and receives the top 702 of the cylindrical member 604.

Marcation lines are indicated on transparent and translucent variations of the jar 700 at 708. These lines 708 help a user visibly estimate the volume of contents remaining in a body 602, 604 of the jar 700. The marcation lines 708 may also position on the annularities 110, 112.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A compartmentalized cylindrical storage jar for improved storage of materials, the storage jar comprising: a first hollow polymeric cylinder having two open ends, a bottom end and a top end, the first hollow polymeric cylinder having two annular flanges for forming a friction with one of a cap and an annular coupler; a second hollow polymeric cylinder having two open ends, a bottom end and a top end, the second hollow polymeric cylinder having two annular flanges for forming a friction with one of a cap and an annular coupler; an annular coupler adapted to form a friction fit with two annular flanges; two lids detachably connectable to an annular flange.
 2. The jar of claim 1, wherein the hollow polymeric cylinder is one of transparent and translucent.
 3. The jar of claim 2, wherein the first polymer cylinder further comprises marcation lines for estimating a quantity of viscous material remaining in the jar.
 4. The jar of claim 1, further comprising a third hollow polymeric cylinder having two open ends, a bottom end and a top end, the first hollow polymeric cylinder having two annular flanges for forming a friction with one of a cap and an annular coupler.
 5. The jar of claim 1, wherein the first hollow polymeric cylinder and the second hollow polymeric cylinder each form a compartment for storing a material.
 6. A compartmentalized cylindrical storage jar for improved storage of materials, the jar comprising: a first hollow polymeric cylinder having an open top end, the first hollow polymeric cylinder having a superior annular flange for forming a friction with one of a cap and a second hollow polymeric cylindrer; wherein the first hollow polymeric cylinder further comprises an inferiorly-protruding sidewall adapted to receive and form a friction fit with a second hollow polymeric cylinder; a second hollow polymeric cylinder having an open top end, the second hollow polymeric cylinder having a superior annular flange for forming a friction with one of a cap and a first hollow polymeric cylinder; wherein the second hollow polymeric cylinder further comprises an inferiorly-protruding sidewall adapted to receive and form a friction fit with a first hollow polymeric cylinder.
 7. The jar of claim 6, wherein a volume of the first hollow polymeric cylinder is greater than a volume of the second hollow polymeric cylinder.
 8. The jar of claim 6, wherein the first hollow polymeric cylinder and the second hollow polymeric cylinder each form a compartment for storing a material.
 9. The jar of claim 6, further comprising a third hollow polymeric cylinder having an open top end, the third hollow polymeric cylinder having a superior annular flange for forming a friction with one of a cap and a first hollow polymeric cylinder; wherein the third hollow polymeric cylinder further comprises an inferiorly-protruding sidewall adapted to receive and form a friction fit with a first hollow polymeric cylinder. 